Grate



l. S. WILSGN.

GRATE.

APPUCMION FILED APR, 24. 19u.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. S. WILSON. GRATE. APPLICATION FILED APR- 24. 19|?.

' 1,349,644. Patented Aug. 17,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES JAMES S. WILSON, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRATE.

Application filed April 24,

To all ywhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMns S. WILSON, a citizen of the United St( tes, residing at Scranton, in the county of liackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to boiler grates and more particularly to an improvement in the construction of the grate sections and the bearing bar for supporting the same, the primary object heilig to provide an improved grate structure especially adapted for the burning of coals such as culm, barley, boiler fuel, etc., which grate structure will possess a higher degree of eiiiciency than present types of grates designed for the burning of similar fuel. Such grates as heretofore constructed usually present disadvantages which render them inefiicient mostly through imperfect combustion of the fuel. In some types of grates of this class the perforations in the grate sections are so proportioned or arranged that holes are likely to be blown through the bed of fuel., thereby causing uneven combustion of the fuel due to formation of greater draft at some points than at others in the surface of the grate. In other grate structures of this class the perforations are likely to be dis tributed or arranged in such a manner that there will be little or no draft through the bed of fuel thus greatly impairing the eiiciency of the furnace. The present invention, therefore, aims, as above stated, to provide for equal distribution of the draft throughout the entire area of the bed of fuel and in order that this may be accomplished it is contemplated that the grate sec tions embodying the invention be provided with draft perforations equally distributed throughout the area thereof but occupying a minimum portion of said area and in themselves being of minimum size so as to retain thesmallest particles of fuel and yet supply sufficient draft to the burning fuel when a strong forced draft is employed.

Another aim of the invention is to so conn struct the grate sections that the draft will not be entirely cut off at the meeting ends of two adjacent sections as is usually the case nor will too great a draft be ermitted to pass upwardly between the sai ends of the sections. In one well known structure the meeting ends of the grate sections are Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

1917. Serial No. 164,140.

stepped at right angles and arranged in overlapped relation, but this structure presents the disadvantage that there is little or no draft permitted to pass between the ends of the sections, and fuel and fine ashes accumulate in the crevice further tending to obstruct the draft. In another structure the meeting ends of the sections are beveled or inclined on a straight line and while there is not the same likelihood of accumulation of fuel and ashes between the said meeting ends in the structure just mentioned', there is, on the other hand, such a free passage of draft permitted that holes are blown through thc bed of fuel causing an uneven distribution of thel draft. The present invention, therefore, contemplates so forming the meeting ends of the grate sections that free and yet not too strong a draft will be permitted to pass between the said meeting ends of the sections and yet there will be no likelihood of fuel or ashes accumulating in the crevice between the said sections.

Another aim of the invention is to so construct the grate sections that the passage of a scraper over the grate surface will not be in any way interfered with and will not disturb the arrangement of the said sections.

The invention also aims to so construct the sections that the same will be interchangeable and that the grate may beV repaired by the substitution of sections with a minimum loss of time, fuel, steam, etc.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of several of the grate sections embodying the present inven# t'on assembled, the bearing bar being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the grate sections;

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectional viewv in detail on the line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail vertical longitudinal sectional view through the meeting ends of two of the sections assembled.

The bearing bar which supports the grate sections'is in the nature of an integral frame structure including front and rear transverse members, indicated by the numerals 1 and 2, respectively, spaced parallel longitudinally extending connecting members 3 which are spaced inwardly l'roni the ends oll the members l and 2, and connecting nienibers l which extend between the longitudinal members presently explained the longitudinal ineinbers l have their upper sides beveled, as at 5, to un edge, indicated by the numeral (i.

The grate sections are of counter-part construction and eaeh roinprises a flat-sided body 7 formed with number of draft perl'orations S which are substantially evenly distributed throughout the area of the said body`r these perforations being substantially conical as shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings, and having` coniparmtively small upper ends and being gradually increased in Width toward their lower ends. or in other Words, toward the underside of the said body. A t its frontend, which end is preferably sluwiiieally designatwl by a legend indicating the saine as indicated b) the numeral 5l in Fig. l of the drawings, the body l of each section is provided with au lip 10 the end of which is inclined downwardly and inwardly at an angle approacliing' the perpemlicular. as indicated at 11. and the underside of which lip is inclined downwardly and inwardly at an angle. approaching the horizontal, as indicated at 12. At the inner end of the lip the end of the body is inclined downwardly and inwardly at an angle closely approaching. the perpendicular, as indicated at 13. TheI purposel of thus for-liningr the forward end of the body 7 of each section will presently be explained. The lip l0 is formed with a num ber of perforatioi'is lll which corresliiond in form to the. perforations S. Extending transversely beneath the body 7 at the forward end thereof and at the inner end ot' the lip l() is a, depending transverse rib 15, the forward face of which is defined by th-e inclined surface 13. The under edge of this rib l5 is fut awayas at 1.6,to provide spaced shoulders 17. The under side of the body 7 adjacent the forward end of the said body is formed with depending1 lugs 18 having their adjacent edges spaced. the lugrs oecup-yimgr a plane substantially at the longitudinal middle of the section and being braced by Wings 19 which extend transversely of the under side of the body 7 and are integral with the opposite side faces ofthe lufrs 18. When the section isy in place upon the bearing bar the adiacenti or opposing edges of the lugs` 18 will engage the opposite faces off the adjacent cross member 4 of the bearing bar, thi-1s preventing longitudinal displacement of the section upon the said bar. The said unlder side of the body 7 is further provided with depending wings 20 which occupy parallel planes and which lie outwardly of the longitudinal members 3 of the bearing bar when the section is properly disposed upon the said bars. The rear end of the body 7 For a purpose to be ol` each section is recessed so as to provide au inclined face 2l., the inclination of which approaches the vertical", an inclined l'ace 22 which approaches the horizontal, and an inclined fare 23 which, as in the case of the face 21, approaches the vertical. It will be observed by reference to Figs. 2' and 7 of the drawings and particularly the latter ligure7 that the face 11 opposes the face 21 g that the lace Vl2 opposes the face 22; anchthat the face 13 opposes the face 23, when the sections are disposed end to end upony the bearing bar. However, the angle of inclination of the faces 11, 12 and 13` differs from thel angle of inclination of the respective faces 21, 22 and 23, the inclination of the several fares being such that a crevice will be formed between the meeting ends of the adjacent sections havingr three. branches, indicated by the numerals 241 25 and 26, the crevice ax a Whole inereasincr gradually in Width from the upper end to the lower end. lu other words. the branch 2l of the crevice is relatively narrow; the branch 25 thereof is slightly wider and in itself increases in width from its upper to its lower end; and` the lower branch 26 is the widest of the three and also in itself increases gradually in width toward its lower end. At this point it will be understood that not only does the draft pass through the perforations S but it also passes upwardly through the crevice between the meeting` ends of adjacent sections of the grate and due to the fact that this crevice embraces the three diferently inclined or diagonal branches 24, 25 and 26, and the said crevice as a Whole gradually increases in width from its upper to its lower end, draft will pass upwardly through the crevice and out through the upper end of the branch 24 thereof, the force of the draft beiner broken, however, due to the said relative inclination of the branches of the crevice. lt will also be understood that any ,line particles of fuel and ashes tending to settle into the crevice will be blowntherefrom or, if they enter through the branch 24 and fall upon the inclined face 22 they will be so disturbed by the rising draft as to Work down the inclined face 22 and out through the branch 26.

In order to provide for the free passage of a scraper over the upper surfaces of the sections, and particularly to prevent catching of the scraper in the upper ends of the branches 24 of the crevice heretofore described, the upper surface of each section at its forward end is slightly beveled, as indicated by the numeral 27, and at a point preferably mid-Way between the sides of the section, the said end of the section isformed with a recess 28,H the end Walls of which slightly diverge in a forward direction, as indicated by the numeral 29, and the inner Wall ofWl-iich is inclined; upwardly and. for- CIS wardly, as indicated by the numeral 30. The rear end of each section, with the same purpose in view, is formed with a boss 3l having an inclined upper surface 32, this boss being so proportioned as to loosely iit into the recess 28 in the next adjacent section. Due to the beveled surfaces 27 and 32 the blade of a scraper passing over the upper surfaces of the sections will meet with no obstruction and will be prevented from dropping into the crevice between the adj acent ends of the sections. Also due to the inclination of the walls of the recess 28 and the loose engagement of the boss 3l in the said reeess, draft will not be cut ofl" at the point of location of the said boss and recess.

It will be understood that inasmuch as the upper edges of the longitudinal members El of the bearing bar are beveled, air currents may pass upwardly at opposite sides of each of the said members and over the beveled edge thereof and up through the draft perfor-ations immediately above the said members without interference Iand as freely as though the members 3 were not present. Furthermore, due to the bevels 5, ashes and soot will be prevented from accumulating on the said upper edges of the members, which accumulation would obstruct the free passage of draft.

lt will be understood that a grate comprises a number of the sections embodying the present invention arranged not only end to end but also side by side, and in order that draft will not be completely cut oli at the meeting lateral edges of adjacent seetions but, on the other hand, to provide for a proper draft between the said edges so that fuel will be evenly consumed, each section is formed upon its opposite side faces with relatively narrow projections 33 which have their upper edges flush with the upper surface of the section and their side edges inclined downwardly and inwardly toward eaeh other, as indicated by the numeral 34. The projet-tions upon the opposite sides of each sei-tion are relatively staggered and thus when adjacent sections are disposed side by side, as shown in Fig. l, the projections on one section will alternate with those on another section, the outer faces of the projections upon one section abutting against the side face of the adjacent section between the projections thereon. The projections are spaced apart a distance greater than their length and, consequently, a nuinber of draft openings will be formed between the meeting sides of adjacent sections for the purpose heretofore stated.

I iaving thus described the invention, what is claimed new is:

1. In a grate, sections assembled end to end and having draft perforations distribnted throughout their area, the meeting ends of the sections being constructed to provide between them a tortuous draft passage, and means for holding the said ends of the sections separated to permanently maintain said passage.

vln a grate, sections assembled end to end and having draft perforations distributed throughout their area, the meeting ends of the sections being constructed to provide between them a tortuous draft passage increasing in size from its upper to its lower end, and means for holding the said ends of the seetions separated to permanently maintain sai-,l passages.

ln a grate, sections assembled end to end and having draft perforations distribuefl throughout their areas, the meeting ends of the sections being overlapped and having stepped surfaces non-correspondingly inclined and forming the walls of a stepped draft passage opening at its top between the said ends of the sections, and means for holding the said ends of the sections separated to permanently maintain said passage.

In a grate, sections assembled end to end, one section at its end having its upper surface beveled and formed in its said end with a recess and the meeting end of the other section being provided with a boss entering said recess and having an inclined upper surface.

5. In a grate, sections assembled end to end and having draft perforations distributed throughout their area, the meeting ends of the sections being constructed to prin ide between them a tortuous draft passage extending downwardly at an angle approaching the vertical from the upper surface of the grate, thence downwardly at an angle approaching the horizontal, and i'inall y substantially vertically downwardly, the seeoud and last mentioned portions of the passage heilig widened in the direction of their lower ends, and means for holding the said ends of the sections separated to permane tly maintain said passage.

(3. A grate section having one end face inclined downwardly and inwardly at its upper portion, downwardly and inwardly at its intermediate portion at an obtuse angle to its first mentioned inclined portion, and extending downwardly substantially vertically at its lower portion, the section having its other end face inclined downwardly and outwardly at its upper portion, downwardly and outwardly at its intermediate portion at an obtuse angle to its first mentioned portion, and inclined downwardly and ini Yardly at its iower portion, and means for holding the said ends of the sections separated to permanently maintain said passage.

In testimony whereof I affix mv signature.

JAMES S. WILSO. [ns] 

